Scouting Report

Kuzma displayed great improvement each of his first two seasons at Utah and is coming off an excellent junior campaign during which he was named first-team All-Pac-12 after averaging 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds. A skilled forward that can score in a number of ways, Kuzma possesses a versatile game that fits the current NBA style of play. While Kuzma is likely too slight to be a true power forward at the next level and not quick enough to be a small forward, he has enough positive attributes that could help him carve out a role similar to how Draymond Green has emerged as a force for Golden State. Positions don't hold quite the same meaning today as they did in years past, and Kuzma is that rare big man that can operate on the perimeter and facilitate behind the 3-point line. He has good passing skills and was a very good transition scorer this past season, averaging 1.34 points per fast break possession. One area of concern for Kuzma is his 3-point shooting. He shot just 32.1 percent as a junior and 25.5 percent the previous year. With the role he's likely to play, it will be imperative for Kuzma to knock down open looks and capitalize on the opportunities he gets. The good news is Kuzma performed very well at the combine and displayed an improved shooting touch by making 4 of 5 3-pointers in the one game of 5-on-5 he played en route to 20 points. Defending big men could also be an issue for the slender Kuzma, who will have to work on his upper body to gain in that area. His strong showing at the combine may have moved Kuzma up a few slots, though likely not enough to get him into the first round.